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Is Jack Kerouac 'On the Road' to a stamp?

By Joel Kost, Sun Correspondent

Updated:
07/08/2013 07:21:31 AM EDT

Dean Contover, of Chelmsford, stands in Kerouac Park. Contover is one of the leading voices pushing for an official Jack Kerouac U.S. postage stamp to commemorate the life of the Lowell writer. SUN/DAVID H. BROW

LOWELL -- Dean Contover set out on a mission in January 1993 to commemorate Lowell-born writer and poet Jack Kerouac on a U.S. postage stamp.

Ever since the Chelmsford resident was a boy, he heard stories about the writer from his mother. He even met Kerouac in the summer of 1968 at the Highland Tap in Lowell and went to the writer's funeral a year later.

In the 20 years since his mission began, Contover has collected a binder-full of letters, dating back to 1994, from state representatives and state senators who supported his endeavor to see a Kerouac stamp. Yet Contover's dream -- and the dream of others -- has not been realized despite the importance it could mean for the city of Lowell.

There is an effort afoot to have the U.S. Postal Service approve an official Jack Kerouac stamp.

"There are a lot of people who are in support, but it's never gotten off the ground," Contover said.

Suggestions for stamp commemorations are sent to members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the U.S. Postal Service. The panel has 12 specific criteria for determining the eligibility of a stamp. The requirements include that the stamp must feature an American or American-related subject, must be an interest of widespread national appeal, must not be a portrayal of a living person, and a featured individual must be dead for at least 10 years.

The most recent letter of support to the federal panel was sent June 10 and signed by state Sen. Eileen Donoghue of Lowell and state Reps.

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James Arciero of Westford, and Thomas Golden, Kevin Murphy and David Nangle, all of Lowell.

"One would certainly hope that the committee would look favorably on this," Donoghue said. "There has been a huge following, both nationally and internationally. For such a niche in literature, he would be worthy of consideration."

There are several Kerouac-related attractions in Lowell.

"Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!" organizes an October festival that features tours of the city; the Lowell National Historical Park has an exhibit dedicated to the writer; and Kerouac is buried in the city.

Chelmsford resident Dean Contover sits in Kerouac Park in Lowell. Contover, a fan of Jack Kerouac, feels the city will benefit if the U.S. Postal Service agrees to a Jack Kerouac commemorative stamp. "It would put Lowell back on the map in regards to stamp-collecting and in regards to the Beat generation," he said. SUN/David H. Brow

In 2007, the historical park hosted an exhibit that featured Kerouac's original manuscript of his book On the Road, a 120-foot-long scroll purchased by Indianapolis Colts owner James Irsay in 2001 for $2.4 million. The scroll exhibit drew more than 25,000 people to Lowell, said Deb Belanger, executive director of the Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Golden recognizes Kerouac's significance throughout the country and the world. He said having Kerouac's image on a stamp would entice tourists and fans of his work to see where he lived.

"Kerouac is definitely an economic engine," Golden said. "He is a literary giant throughout the world. Putting him on a stamp will increase his visibility, and it will increase the city's visibility. People are going to say, 'Why not go?' "

As chairman of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, Golden helps promotes Merrimack Valley attractions to tourists, especially through familiarization tours, which give writers and journalists a chance to personally experience the city's culture and write about it, potentially increasing tourism in the area.

Belanger said she gives about 12 familiarization tours a year to international writers from Italy, Canada, Switzerland and Germany. Most end up writing about Kerouac in their stories, she said.

If Kerouac were get his own stamp, Belanger said it would add to the number of reasons tourists would visit Lowell to see where their favorite literary icon lived.

"It's almost like a pilgrimage for them," she said. "Having another product like the Kerouac stamp just adds to the mix of products, and it really does showcase the city of Lowell."

It's because of Kerouac's following and success that makes Arciero a fan of On the Road. He believes Kerouac is more than deserving of a stamp, and feels it would be significant for Lowell.

"As a fan, to actually see this move forward and to see this adoption would be wonderful," Arciero said. "It would be wonderful for the city of Lowell and wonderful for the region."

Contover shares that feeling.

"I think it'd be great for Lowell," he said. "It would put Lowell back on the map in regards to stamp-collecting and in regards to the Beat generation."

The state officials who signed the most recent letter of recommendation have not heard from the federal panel, but said they are looking forward to its feedback.

"There are many people who have been supportive and are anxious to see a positive reaction from the advisory committee," Donoghue said. "We will wait and see."

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